Modular planting system

ABSTRACT

A modular planting system which includes: an outer planter box having at least one side and being completely open at a top and open at a bottom of the outer planter box; an inner planter box having at least one side and a porous bottom and being completely open at a top of the inner planter box, the inner planter box being sized to fit within the outer planter box; wherein the outer planter box and inner planter box comprise a first module of the modular planting system.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a modular planting system which makeslandscaping of all shapes and sizes much easier for anyone using themodular planting system.

Landscaping, particularly planting of flower gardens, is often tediousand physically demanding. One may be discouraged from doing landscapingbecause of a lack of time to do the landscaping as it may require aconsiderable amount of time to prepare the soil and plant a variety offlowers, for example. Too, landscaping often requires kneeling down forlong periods of time to do the considerable amount of work necessary forlandscaping. As one ages, it may be difficult for one to do the worknecessary for landscaping.

Then there is the weather. After taking the time to do the landscaping,a spate of cold weather may adversely affect the landscape plantings. Ifcare is not taken, the cold weather may seriously harm or even kill theplantings.

There is presently no way to do landscaping in a less tedious and lessphysically demanding way while also protecting the new landscapeplantings from the adverse weather effects.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The various advantages and purposes of the exemplary embodiments asdescribed above and hereafter are achieved by providing, according to afirst aspect of the exemplary embodiments, a modular planting systemwhich includes: an outer planter box having at least one side and beingcompletely open at a top and open at a bottom of the outer planter box;and an inner planter box having at least one side and a porous bottomand being completely open at a top of the inner planter box, the innerplanter box being sized to fit within the outer planter box; wherein theouter planter box and inner planter box comprise a first module of themodular planting system.

According to a second aspect of the exemplary embodiments, there isprovided a modular planting system which includes: an outer planter boxhaving at least one side and being completely open at a top and open ata bottom of the outer planter box; an inner planter box having at leastone side and a porous bottom and being completely open at a top of theinner planter box; and a lock top to fit on a top edge of the outerplanter box and extending a full length of the top edge, the lock tophaving an opening to permit the inner planter box to pass through it;wherein the outer planter box, inner planter box and locktop comprise afirst module of the modular planting system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the exemplary embodiments believed to be novel and theelements characteristic of the exemplary embodiments are set forth withparticularity in the appended claims. The Figures are for illustrationpurposes only and are not drawn to scale. The exemplary embodiments,both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understoodby reference to the detailed description which follows taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the modularplanting system.

FIG. 2 is a view of an exemplary embodiment of the module plantingsystem assembled except for the dome cover.

FIG. 3A is a cross section view of the modular planting system of FIG. 2in the direction of arrow 3-3.

FIG. 3B is a view similar to FIG. 3A with a first modification to themodular planting system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3C is a view similar to FIG. 3A with a second modification to themodular planting system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the modularplanting system having lighting and irrigation accessory components.

FIG. 5 is another exemplary embodiment of the locktop for the modularplanting system.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of theouter planter box, FIG. 6B is an end view of the outer planter box ofFIG. 6A, FIG. 6C is a side view of the outer planter box of FIG. 6A andFIG. 6D is a plan view of the outer planter box of FIG. 6D.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the stacking of a plurality of the outerplanter boxes of FIG. 6A to form a retaining wall.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the inner planter box of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9A is another exemplary embodiment of the inner planter box wherethe inner planter box has been made of a flexible material and FIG. 9Billustrates the inner planter box of FIG. 9A wherein the inner planterbox has been flexed to form a curved inner planter box.

FIG. 10A is a side view of two outer planter boxes joined together by afirst embodiment of a coupling and FIG. 10B is a top view of the firstembodiment of the coupling.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a coupling joining twoouter planter boxes together.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a cover for theouter planter box.

FIG. 13 are illustrations of various exemplary shapes for the modularplanting system.

FIG. 14 is an example of a landscaping layout using the exemplaryembodiments of the modular planting system.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of themodular planting system having anchor tabs.

FIG. 16 is a perspective of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 15 with theanchor tabs bent outwardly.

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view in the direction of lines 17-17 of theexemplary embodiment of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 17 showing in moredetail the arrangement of the inner planter box, the outer planter boxand the lock top.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the exemplary embodiments, there is proposed a very easyand time-saving planting system that can be done year after year withease and less demanding physical activity.

There are several exemplary embodiments of the modular planting system.These exemplary embodiments include, but are not limited to, a drop-insystem, a border system and a retaining wall system.

The drop-in system will be described first. In this exemplary embodimentof the modular planting system, there is an outer planter box that maybe planted in the ground and a separate inner planter box that may beprepared out of the ground such as in a garage, planting shed,greenhouse or other area before dropping into the outer planter box.Further, gardeners may typically use a weed barrier, such as alandscaping cloth, underneath the plantings to control weed growth. Theouter planter box may have a design such that the landscaping cloth maybe locked in place before the inner planter box is dropped into place.The outer planter box may also have apertures or grooves for accepting alighting system or irrigation system. The apertures may also be suitablefor receiving stakes to secure the outer planter box in place in theground.

The outer planter box and inner planter box may be fabricated in anumber of shapes and sizes such as rectangle, cylinder, curvedsemi-circle, L-shaped just to name a few. Since the inner planter box isdropped into the outer planter box, the inner planter box and outerplanter box should have the same shape although the inner planter boxwill be slightly smaller to allow the inner planter box to be droppedinto the outer planter box.

The modular planting system is very versatile in that the inner planterbox may be swapped out with another similar inner planter box to allowvariability in landscaping design as well allowing some plantings tohave more sun than other plantings. Further, the inner planter box maybe filled with non-native soil so as to grow certain plantings where theplantings might not otherwise grow, such as in the desert. Also, as themodular planting system is self-contained, water usage may be less.

The inner planter box may additionally have a clear dome cover which mayserve several purposes. The dome cover allows plantings for the innerplanter box to be started early when the weather is still premature foroutside planting. Moreover, when the inner planter box has receivedplantings and then placed in the outer planter box, the dome cover maybe placed over the inner planter box when an unexpected frost may occur.If the frost is expected to last a few days, the inner planter box maybe removed from the outer planter box and placed in a more protectedenvironment.

In sum, the inner planter box may be conveniently filled with plantingsin a less physically demanding environment. The inner planter box may bemade of less durable materials than the outer planter box since theinner planter box may be easily replaced. It is preferred that the outerplanter box be made of more durable materials since it is expected thatthe outer planter box may be in the ground for several seasons before itmay need to be replaced.

Another exemplary embodiment of the modular planting system is its useas a border. Most, maybe all, of the currently available border productsare strips of plastic or metal. Because of the low profile of theseproducts, it is often difficult to separate the grass area from theplanted area which may have mulch or stone. The three dimensional designof the modular planting system allows greater separation of the grassarea from the mulched or stoned area and, further, allows thebackfilling of the modular planting system with a variety of materialsto create an attractive border.

Another exemplary embodiment of the modular planting system is its useas a retaining wall. Most retaining walls used around gardens are madefrom very heavy materials such as concrete or bulky pressure treatedwood. The outer planter box of the exemplary embodiments may be placedinto the ground and then stacked up with a locking design built into theouter planter box. The outer planter boxes then can be backfilled withsand or dirt. The top row of outer planter boxes may then receive theinner planter boxes with the plantings.

Referring now to the Figures in more detail, and particularly referringto FIG. 1, there is an exploded view of the modular planting system 10of the exemplary embodiments. The modular planting system 10 may includean outer planter box 12 and an inner planter box 14 sized to slidewithin the outer planter box 12. The outer planter box 12 and the innerplanter box 14 may have the same vertical height or different verticalheights such as the inner planter box 14 may have a smaller verticalheight than the outer planter box 12. That is, side 16 of outer planterbox 12 may be about the same dimension, a larger dimension or a smallerdimension, as side 18 of inner planter box 14.

The outer planter box 12 is open at the top 20 and bottom 22. In oneexemplary embodiment, the outer planter box 12 may be inserted in theground (not shown) and be open at the top 20 to receive the innerplanter box 14. The outer planter box 12 need not have a bottom since anadvantage of the exemplary embodiments is that inner planter box 14,when inserted into the outer planter box 12, may engage with the groundjust as if the inner planter box 12 alone was inserted in the ground.However, in one exemplary embodiment, the outer planter box 12 may bepartially closed off on the bottom 22 to provide, for example, supportand rigidity to the outer planter box 12. In this later exemplaryembodiment, the bottom 22 of the outer planter box 12 should be at least50 to 75% open to provide sufficient contact between the underlying soiland the plantings of the inner planter box 14.

The outer planter box 12 may have a plurality of apertures 30 forsecuring a lighting system (not shown) or an irrigation system (notshown). Some of the apertures 30 may also be used for staking the outerplanter box 12 to the ground. The outer planter box 12 may additionallyhave grooves 32 for receiving a locktop 28 (to be described hereafter).In a further exemplary embodiment, grooves 34 may be used for stackingof the outer planter box 12 to another outer planter box 12 (not shown)to form a retaining wall as described hereafter. If the outer planterbox 12 will not be stacked, then grooves 34 may be dispensed, leavingonly grooves 32 for the locktop 28.

The inner planter box 14 has an open top to receive garden soil andplantings (not shown) and a porous bottom (shown in FIG. 8) so that theplantings (not shown) within the inner planter box 14 may easily draininto the ground. The porous bottom may be a screening or perforatedmaterial to keep the garden soil in but allow roots of the plantings andwater to pass through the screening or perforated material. The innerplanter box 14 may also have drain holes 26 for drainage of the soil andplantings (not shown).

Further shown in FIG. 1 is a locktop 28 for securing a landscapematerial or weed barrier (collectively referred to as a landscapematerial) to the outer planter box 12. The locktop 28 may additionallyhave apertures 36 for receiving a lighting system (not shown) or anirrigation system (not shown). In the exemplary embodiment of thelocktop 28 shown in FIG. 1, the locktop 28 may also have the sameapertures 30 as in the outer planter box 12. The apertures 30 of thelocktop 28 preferably should line up with the apertures 30 in the outerplanter box 12. The locktop 28 may further have conduits 38 forreceiving electrical wires to connect to the lighting system or forproviding a fluid such as water to the irrigation system.

The modular planting system may additionally have a dome cover 40 forplacing over the inner planting box 14. The dome cover 40 may be usefulduring the early planting season to act like a little greenhouse topromote the growth of early plantings and also protect the young plantsfrom an unexpected frost.

The components of the modular planting system 10 are preferably madefrom durable but inexpensive materials such as plastics and fiberglass.Since the outer planter box 12 and locktop 28 are meant to be used forseveral planting seasons, the outer planter box 12 and locktop 28 may bemade from more durable materials, or thicker materials, than the innerplanter box 14 which may be used for only one or two planting seasons.In one exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 9A, the inner planter box 14Amay be made from a cardboard or biodegradable material which may be usedonly one planting season and then discarded at the end of the plantingseason. In another exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 9B, the innerplanter box 14B may be made from a flexible cardboard or biodegradablecontainer that may fit any of the different embodiments of the outerplanter box 12. The inner planter box 14B may also be discarded at theend of the planting season. The dome cover 40 may be made of any durableclear material such as a plastic to enable use of the dome cover 40 forseveral planting seasons.

The inner planter box 14 may additionally have handles 27 to assist theremoval of the inner planter box 14 from the outer planter box 12. Thesehandles 27 may be in the form of flexible material such as that shown inFIG. 1. Other embodiments of the handles 27 may include tabs (not shown)which may be retractable within the inner planter box 14.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the modular planting 10 has been assembled(except for the dome cover 40) by inserting the inner planter box 14into the outer planter box 12 and then placing the locktop 28 in place.The landscape material is not visible in FIG. 2. The dome cover 40 isnearby in case it needs to be placed in position at a later time.

A cross sectional view of the modular planting system 10 is shown inFIG. 3. The cross sectional view has been taken in the direction ofarrows 3-3 in FIG. 2. Outer planter box 12 has been inserted in theground 46. Landscape material 42 has been placed within the outerplanter box 12 so as to line the sides of the outer planter box 12 andlay along the ground 46 underneath the inner planter box 14. Thelandscape material 42 may be held in place by locktop 28. Inner planterbox 14 having a porous bottom 44, garden soil 48 and plantings 50 may beplaced on the landscape material 42 and in outer planter box 12. Ifdesired, dome cover 40 may be placed on the top of the inner planter box12. The inner planter box 14, even after being placed within the outerplanter box 12, may be easily removed from the outer planter box 12 andplaced in another outer planter box 12 or just removed from the otherplanter box 12 to manage the plantings 50 in the inner planter box 14.While the outer planter box 12 is meant to stay within the ground 46, ittoo may be removed if desired by removing any staking that may have beenapplied. Also shown in FIG. 3A are lighting systems 58, 60 which may beattached to the locktop 28.

FIG. 3A shows an additional feature which is not shown in FIG. 2. Theouter planter box 12 may include anchor tabs 25 which may be useful tohold the outer planter box 12 in the ground while removing the innerplanter box 14. Anchor tabs 25 are also shown on the outer planter 12 inFIG. 1. When anchor tabs 25 are present, staking of the outer planterbox 12 may not be necessary.

Referring now to FIG. 3B, there is shown another exemplary embodiment ofa locktop 29. The locktop 29 may sit entirely within the grooves 32 ofthe outer planter box 12 and be approximately flush with a top of theouter planter box 12. The locktop 29 would perform the same function ofholding the landscape material 42 in place.

Referring now to FIG. 3C, there is shown a further exemplary embodimentof a locktop 31. The locktop 31 may be “U”-shaped so as to sit on thetop of the outer planter box 12, with one leg of the “U” being in thegrooves 32 of the outer planter box 12. The locktop 31 would perform thesame function of holding the landscape material 42 in place.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated the outer planter box 12having the locktop 28. Also illustrated are accessories that may beutilized with the outer planter box 12 and locktop 28. These accessoriesmay include lighting system 58, lighting system 60 and irrigation system62. Each of these accessories may be attached to the outer planter box12 and locktop 28 through apertures 30 which may extend through thelocktop 28 into the outer planter box 12. Some of these apertures 52 maybe suitable for receiving projections 57 on lighting system 58 orlighting system 60. Others of the apertures 54 may be suitable forreceiving projections 57 on irrigation system 62. Preferably,projections 57 may be the same, although not necessarily so, for all ofthe lighting systems 58, 60 and irrigation system 62 to enable thelighting systems 58, 60 and irrigation system 62 to be placed on eitherside of the outer planter box 12 and locktop 28. The outer planter box12 and locktop 28 may further include apertures 56 that penetratethrough the entire side of the outer planter box 56 to enable staking ofthe outer planter box 12 to the ground. While apertures 56 are best forstaking the outer planter box 12 and shallow apertures 52, 54 are bestfor receiving the lighting systems 58, 60 and irrigation system 62, thelighting systems 58, 60 and irrigation system 62 may also use thestaking apertures 56 if not being used for staking. The modular plantingsystem may further include one or more caps 59 for plugging theapertures that are not being used.

A modified locktop 64 is illustrated in FIG. 5. Whereas lighting systems58, 60 in FIG. 4 had wiring external to the outer planter box 12 andlocktop 28, lighting systems 68, 70 in FIG. 5 may plug directly into themodified locktop 64 which contains wiring conduits 66. Apertures 30 notused for the lighting systems 68, 70 may receive the projections 57 forthe irrigation system 62. Preferably, the lighting systems 68, 70 wouldbe on one side of the locktop 64 while the irrigation system 62 would beon the other side of the locktop 64. Locktop 31 shown in FIG. 3C may bemodified similarly to locktop 64 to receive the lighting systems 68, 70.

As noted previously, the outer planter boxes may be stacked to form aretaining wall. It is preferred that the outer planter boxes 72 in FIG.6A be used when stacking of the outer planter boxes is desired. Theouter planter boxes 72 may contain rails 74 on the bottom off the outerplanter box 72 which may join with grooves 34 on the top of the outerplanter boxes 72. An example of stacking outer planter boxes 72 isillustrated in FIG. 7. Grooves 34 may be a continuation of groves 32which may receive a locktop 28, for example. The top of the outerplanter box 72 has an opening 20 for receiving fill material, such asgravel or soil, or an inner planter box 14 as described previously. Whenthe outer planter boxes 72 are stacked as shown in FIG. 7, a locktop mayonly be necessary in the topmost stacked outer planter box 72.

FIG. 6B is an end view and FIG. 6C is a side view of the outer planterbox 72. While the rails 74 may continue across the entire length of theouter planter box 72 as shown in FIG. 6C, this is preferred for thegreatest stability of the retaining wall although it is within the scopeof the present exemplary embodiments for the rails 74 to extend onlypart way across the length of the outer planter box 72. Outer planterbox 72 may contain apertures 56 for staking the outer planter box 72 toanother outer planter box.

When the retaining wall has been completed with the stacking of theouter planter boxes 72, the top row of outer planter boxes 72 mayreceive an inner planter box 14 so that plantings may be used todecorate the retaining wall. Too, shallow apertures 52, 54 may be usedfor lighting systems or an irrigation system as described previously.

FIG. 6D is a plan view of outer planter box 72. As noted earlier, thebottom of the outer planter boxes such as outer planter box 12 in FIG. 1and outer planter box 72 in FIGS. 6A-D is open. In one exemplaryembodiment, the bottom may be 100% open. However, it may be advantageousto have ribs or supports 75 on the bottom of the outer planter boxes 12,72 for support and rigidity. Such ribs or supports 75 may beparticularly advantageous when the outer planter boxes 72 are used as aretaining wall. It is expected that when the outer planter boxes 12, 72may have ribs or supports 75, the bottom of the outer planter boxes 12,72 should still be at least 50 to 75% open.

Various means may be employed to connect the outer planter boxes, suchas outer planter boxes 12. Referring now to FIG. 10A, two outer planterboxes 12 have been joined together by coupling 76. Coupling 76 has beenattached to outer planter boxes 12 by fasteners 78. A top view ofcoupling 76 is shown in FIG. 10B. It is noted that coupling 76 is curvedwhich when attached to the outer planter boxes 12 provides the greateststability to the connection of the outer planter boxes 12.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative exemplary embodiment of a coupling81. FIG. 11 illustrates a plan view of two outer planter boxes 12. Eachof the outer planter boxes 12 may have projections 79 which matchrecesses 83 in the coupling 81. The coupling 81 may extend the entireheight of the outer planter boxes 12 such as coupling 76 in FIG. 10A.The projections 79 may extend all or part way of the height of the outerplanter boxes so that there is a robust connection between theprojections 79 and coupling 81. To connect two outer planter boxes 12,coupling 81 may be slid down so that the recesses 83 of the coupling 81receive the projections 79 of the outer planter boxes 12.

Referring now to FIG. 12, there is shown a flat cover 80 that may beinserted over the outer planter box 12, for example, when the growingseason is over. Mulch 82 or other material may be placed over the flatcover 80 to hide the flat cover 80. The mulch 82 may be removed beforethe next growing season to expose the flat cover 80 and remove it toallow fresh plantings in an inner planter box 14, to be inserted in theouter planter box 12, for example. If desired, the inner planter box 14may remain in place when the flat cover 80 is used after the growingseason.

The modular planting system 10 may come in a variety of differentconfigurations to suit any landscaping design. Referring now to FIG. 13,these configurations may include, but not be limited to, a circle design84, a small partial circle 86, a large partial circle 88, a smallrectangle 90, a large rectangle 92, a half-round catcher 94 and adouble-round catcher 96. Some of these configurations are shown in FIG.14 where a complicated landscaping design has been made using theexemplary embodiments of the modular planting system 10.

Referring now to FIG. 15, there is shown a perspective view of anotherexemplary embodiment of the modular planting system 100. The modularplanting system 100 may include an outer planter box 102, an innerplanter box 104 placed within the outer planter box 102 and an optionallock top 106 placed on the outer planter box to hold down a landscapematerial (not shown in FIG. 15) that may be placed between the innerplanter box 104 and outer planter box 102 as described previously.

The lock top 106 may be securely held in place on the outer planter box102 by push rivets 108. These push rivets 108 may be made of plastic andmay be pushed into apertures of the outer planter box 102 and the locktop 106 to lock the lock top 106 to the outer planter box 102. Thesepush rivets 108 may also be referred to as push type bumper fastenerclips.

Also shown in FIG. 15 are a plurality of anchor tabs 110 formed at abottom edge of the outer planter box 102. A particular advantage of theexemplary embodiment of the outer planter box 102 shown in FIG. 15 isthat the plurality of anchor tabs 110 may be easily formed integrallywith the outer planter box 110 during the formation of the outer planterbox 102 by, for example, a molding process.

Before the outer planter box 102 is placed in the ground, the pluralityof anchor tabs 110 may be bent outwardly so that when dirt or other fillmaterial is placed around the outer planter box 102 after the outerplanter box 102 is placed in the ground, the weight of the dirt or otherfill material securely holds the outer planter box 102 in the ground.FIG. 16 illustrates the anchor tabs 110 bent outwardly in the fullydeployed position.

It is within the scope of the exemplary embodiments that the outerplanter box 102 may be deployed in the ground without bending outwardlyany of the anchor tables 110.

It is further within the scope of the exemplary embodiments that theouter planter box 102 not have any anchor tabs 110.

A cross sectional view in the direction of lines 17-17 of FIG. 15 is nowshown in FIG. 17. As can be seen, the outer planter box 102 receives theinner planter box 104. The inner planter box 104 fits loosely within theouter planter box 102 to allow for the placement of the lock top 106over the top edge of the outer planter box 102 and also for placement ofthe landscape material (not shown) between the outer planter box 102 andthe inner planter box 104.

As described previously, the outer planter box 102 may be substantiallyor, as shown in FIG. 17, completely open at the bottom. The innerplanter box 104 may have openings, such as perforations 112 shown inFIG. 17, to allow water drainage from the plantings placed within theinner planter box 104.

The vertical height “A” of the outer planter box 102 (minus the heightof the plurality of anchor tabs 110) should be the same as or, morepreferably, greater than the vertical height “B” of the inner planterbox 104. The difference in height allows for the presence of fillunderneath the inner planter box 104 to ensure good water drainage fromthe plantings in the inner planter box 104.

Further details of the modular planting system 100 are shown in FIG. 18which enlarges some of the features of the modular planting system 100shown in FIG. 17. The view in FIG. 18 shows the modular planting system100 deployed in the ground 116 with the inner planter box 104 ready toreceive plantings. Underneath the inner planter box 104 is fill 114.Captured between the inner planter box 104, the outer planter box 102and the lock top 106 is the landscape material 118.

The inner planter box 104 may have a top edge 120 in the shape of aninverted “U” with the “U” opening towards the inside bottom of the innerplanter box 104. This U-shaped feature provides a handy place forgripping the inner planter box 104 to remove it from the outer planterbox 102.

The outer planter box 102 may have a top edge 122 in the shape of aninverted “U” with the “U” opening towards the bottom of the outerplanter box 102. This U-shaped feature provides a handy place forgripping the outer planter box 102 to remove it from the ground 116. Inaddition, the top edge 122 provides a surface on which the lock top 106may lock down the landscape material 118.

FIG. 18 shows in greater detail the lock top 106 which may also beU-shaped wherein the U-shape is inverted when placed on the top edge 122of the outer planter box 102. The lock top 106 may fit between the outerplanter box 102 and the inner planter box 104 so that the lock top 106may remain in place when the inner planter box 104 is removed. The locktop 106 may have one longer leg 124 of the “U” that is placed betweenthe outer planter box 102 and the inner planter box 104 so that when theinner planter box 104 is removed from the outer planter box 102, theinner planter box 104 does not catch on the edge of the lock top 106.

FIG. 18 additionally illustrates apertures 126 in the edge 122 of theouter planter box 102 that are aligned with apertures 128 in the locktop 106. Push rivets 108 may be inserted through aligned apertures 126,128 to securely lock the lock top 106 to the outer planter box 102.

While not shown specifically with respect to modular planting system100, any of the features of modular planting system 10 describedpreviously may be used with modular planting system 100. Some of thesefeatures, for the purpose of illustration and not limitation, may be thedome cover illustrated for example in FIG. 2, the lighting andirrigation systems illustrated for example in FIG. 4, the ribs orsupports illustrated in FIG. 6D, the various shapes illustrated forexample in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 13 and 14, the coupling mechanisms illustratedfor example in FIGS. 10A, 10B and 11 and the cover illustrated in FIG.12.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having regard to thisdisclosure that other modifications of the exemplary embodiments beyondthose embodiments specifically described here may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, suchmodifications are considered within the scope of the invention aslimited solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular planting system comprising: an outerplanter box having at least one side and being completely open at a topand open at a bottom of the outer planter box; and an inner planter boxhaving at least one side and a porous bottom and being completely openat a top of the inner planter box, the inner planter box being sized tofit within, and being centered within, the outer planter box; and a locktop consisting of a body sized to fit only on a top edge of the outerplanter box and extending a full length of the top edge, the lock tophaving an opening to permit the inner planter box to pass through itsuch that the opening does not obstruct the completely open top of theouter planter box; wherein the outer planter box, inner planter box andlock top comprise a first module of the modular planting system.
 2. Themodular planting system of claim 1 wherein the at least one side of theouter planter box has a length A and the at least one side of the innerplanter box has a length B such that A is equal to or greater than B. 3.The modular planting system of claim 1 wherein the top edge of the outerplanter box in cross section has a U-shape in the form of an inverted Uand the lock top has a U-shape in cross section such that when the locktop is inverted to fit on the top edge of the outer planter box, theinverted U-shape of the lock top matches the inverted U-shape of theedge of the outer planter box.
 4. The modular planting system of claim 3wherein the U-shape of the locktop has one leg of the U that is longerthan the other leg such that when the locktop is fit on the edge ofouter planter box, the longer leg of the locktop is on an inside surfaceof the at least one side of the outer planter box.
 5. The modularplanting system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of bendableanchor tabs extending from the bottom of the outer planter box.
 6. Themodular planting system of claim 1 wherein the at least one side of theinner planter box comprises a plurality of drainage weep holes.
 7. Themodular planting system of claim 1 further comprising a dome cover tofit over the inner planter box.
 8. The modular planting system of claim1 wherein the top edge of the outer planter box has a plurality ofapertures and wherein a top edge of the lock top has a plurality ofapertures which are aligned with the plurality of apertures of the outerplanter box.
 9. The modular planting system of claim 8 furthercomprising an irrigation system having a plurality of projections, theplurality of projections sized to fit in a matching number of pluralityof apertures in the top edge of the outer planter box.
 10. The modularplanting system of claim 8 further comprising a lighting system having aplurality of projections, the plurality of projections sized to fit in amatching number of plurality of apertures in the top edge of the outerplanter box.
 11. The modular planting system of claim 10 wherein thelock top further comprising a plurality of channels having wiringtherein to intersect with the plurality of apertures in the lock top.12. The modular planting system of claim 1 wherein the lock top furthercomprising a plurality of apertures and a lighting system having aplurality of projections, the plurality of projections sized to fit in amatching number of plurality of apertures in the lock top.
 13. Themodular planting system of claim 1 further comprising a coupling to jointhe first module to a second module.
 14. A modular planting systemcomprising: an outer planter box having at least one side and beingcompletely open at a top and open at a bottom of the outer planter box;an inner planter box having at least one side and a porous bottom andbeing completely open at a top of the inner planter box, the innerplanter box being sized to fit within and being centered within, theouter planter box; and a lock top to fit on a top edge of the outerplanter box and extending a full length of the top edge, the lock tophaving an opening to permit the inner planter box to pass through it,the top edge of the outer planter box in cross section has a U-shape inthe form of an inverted U and the lock top has a U-shape in crosssection such that when the lock top is inverted to fit on the top edgeof the outer planter box, the inverted U-shape of the lock top matchesthe inverted U-shape of the edge of the outer planter box; wherein theouter planter box, inner planter box and locktop comprise a first moduleof the modular planting system.
 15. The modular planting system of claim14 wherein the at least one side of the outer planter box has a length Aand the at least one side of the inner planter box has a length B suchthat A is equal to or greater than B.
 16. The modular planting system ofclaim 14 further comprising a plurality of bendable anchor tabsextending from the bottom of the outer planter box, the bendable anchortabs in one position being in line with the at least one side of theouter planter box and in a second position being bent so as to extendoutwardly of the at least one side of the outer planter box.
 17. Themodular planting system of claim 14 further comprising a coupling tojoin the first module to a second module.
 18. The modular plantingsystem of claim 14 wherein the top edge of the outer planter box has aplurality of apertures and wherein a top edge of the lock top has aplurality of apertures which are aligned with the plurality of aperturesof the outer planter box.
 19. The modular planting system of claim 14wherein the U-shape of the locktop has one leg of the U that is longerthan the other leg such that when the locktop is fit on the edge ofouter planter box, the longer leg of the locktop is on an inside surfaceof the at least one side of the outer planter box.